Buy In Orange County CA For Cheap Used Trucks

Orange County is rarely considered to be a paradise for trucks because most people opt for smaller cars or SUVs. While this may seem problematic for anyone interested in used trucks it is actually a huge benefit. Since there are fewer people interested in used trucks, there are less people to bid against at auction.
Auctions Are the Key to Buying a Cheap Used Truck in Orange County
Anyone who wants to save money on a reliable used truck in Orange County needs to consider attending an auto auction. New and used truck dealerships in the area are known for selling trucks at a huge markup. In some cases they even sell them for more than the secondary market value. This is because fewer trucks are available than cars or SUVs. There are two reasons for this:
1. Less Trucks Mean Less Used Trucks
The simplest reason there are fewer used trucks available is because less people are buying new trucks. A majority of people who buy trucks are already driving them. Few people make the jump from small car to truck. Since there are fewer trucks on the road there are necessarily less used trucks available. As a result, used truck dealerships feel confident they will turnover their inventory even if they mark up each unit by a significant percentage over the standard secondary market value.
2. People Keep Trucks Longer Than Cars
The second reason less trucks are available is because they offer a longer useful lifespan. Most people who buy cars realize that they will likely be replacing it at 150,000 or sooner. Quality trucks consistently prove to be reliable well past 250,000 miles. As a result, people who purchase a new truck are happy to keep it for 8 years or longer. When you combine less trucks being sold with each truck being kept longer, you create a shortage of trucks which drives up prices.
How an Auction Helps
An auto auction is the best place to buy a used truck in Orange County for a few reasons. The first is minimal competition. At most auctions there will only be a few other bidders interested in the trucks made available. This means you will be able to get them for a much lower price.
The second benefit of an auto auction is they source vehicles from outside the Orange County area. People and businesses in the surrounding area understand there is a shortage of trucks in Orange County. As a result, they will send their used trucks to local Orange County auctions. As a result, auctions are the only place there is a surplus of trucks in comparison to the immediate demand. This suppresses prices and offers a huge savings opportunity for savvy buyers.
A few examples of recent trucks at auction in Orange County
• 2003 Nissan Frontier
This 2003 Nissan Frontier carried a secondary market value of $11,500. It had only 87,000 miles on its 3.3L V6 engine. While this crew cab is rear wheel drive, it offers an excellent value for anyone in Orange County. There were minor dents and scratches on the back end which is why the winning bidder was able to pay only $2,750 to bring it home.
• 2013 Chevy Silverado
Newer trucks can be a great value as well. This 2013 Chevy Silverado carried an estimated secondary market value of nearly $41,000 but the winning bidder paid only $10,500. There were several factors that led to this. The most important is there was an estimated $15,000 of damage to the rear portion of the truck. If the winning bidder isn’t going to tow anything then none of these repairs are necessary. Even if towing is priority there is no reason to fix the cosmetic damage. This black crew cab featured a 5.3L V8 engine that will last a long time considering there was only 15,331 miles on it.
• 2013 Ford F150
If you are interested in a newer truck but don’t want to make any repairs yourself, there are still a lot of great deals out there. This 2013 Ford F150 had a secondary market value of nearly $31,000 when it was put up for auction. With only 14,000 miles on it, this gray crew cab was a steal. While it is only rear wheel drive, it boasts a 5.0L V8 engine. The winning bidder paid only $9,500.
• 2006 Honda Ridgeline
The final example of cheap trucks recently sold at auction in Orange County is this 2006 Honda Ridgeline. It had less than 36,000 miles on it and an estimated secondary market value of $22,980. It was a crew cab with a 3.5L V6 engine but it was all wheel drive. The highest bidder paid only $8,200 for it.